The performance featured performances from Suzuki students of all ages, led by the school’s instructors. The performance opened with a rhythm demonstration from the youngest students. This was followed by an advanced string orchestra followed by an all student performance. For the last pieces of the performance the audience was invited to sing along to several Christmas classics.

Suzuki School teacher Paula Anderson led the group performance. She said the students had been in rehearsal every Monday since September.

“A lot of the songs performed were variations on Christmas classics,” Anderson said. “That makes it more challenging and interesting for our students.”

She said the most challenging piece they performed was a “Greensleeves” variant. Anderson said there was a lot of tonal differences in the piece that the students needed to overcome. She said during rehearsal many of the students were worried it was not sounding right, but they were able give a compelling performance.

Joshua Carlovsky with the Suzuki School plays the violin for “Lo, How a Rose,” the opening Christmas song during the Suzuki School’s performance at Oakwood Methodist Church Sunday.

The performance of “Waltz from the Nutcracker” was another highlight of the concert. Many of the orchestra incorporated subtle ballet kicks to punctuate the performance.

Anderson said the sing-a-long portion of the performance was the easiest for the students. The inclusion of singing did not hurt the orchestra’s performance. Anderson said the sing-along-long songs were so well known by the students they had no problem playing with the audience.

The songs including “Joy to the World,” “O’ Christmas Tree,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Anderson said it was overall strong performance that ended on a high note.

The Allegro Strings section of the Suzuki School of Music perform “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen.”

The beginner students at the Suzuki School of School join the advanced students and instructors for a performance of “O Come Little Children during Sunday’s Christmas performance at Oakwood Methodist Church.

The younger students at the Suzuki School perform Sunday wearing Christmas themed hats. The beginner students join the advanced orchestra for performances of “O Come Little Children” and “Go Tell Aunt Rhody.”

The advanced students from Suzuki School Music perform a variant of “Greensleeves” during their Christmas concert. Suzuki School instructor Paula Anderson said this variant of “Greensleeves” was one of the more challenging pieces performed by the students.

The Suzuki School students added an extra flair to their performances of “Walz from the Nutcracker.” The students included exaggerated ballet kicks and extended bow strokes.

The Suzuki School of Music students close out their Sunday Christmas performance with “We Wish You a Merry Crhistmas.”